These are some of the questions I’m asked often about finding teaching jobs in Vietnam; be sure to let me know any other questions you have in the comments!
Do I need to be in Vietnam to find a teaching job?
You do not need to be in Vietnam to find a teaching English job. It’s sometimes better if you are not so you can arrive on a business visa rather than a tourist visa. Interviews are often done over Skype in the ESL world so this is possible.
There are benefits to applying from within Vietnam too. For example, some companies/recruiters are perhaps not willing to take the risk that you’ll book your flights if there is a suitable alternative already in the country. Also, jobs tend to get snapped up quickly and often with a short period before the start date, which could be another perk to being in the country when interviewing.
How far in advance do I need to start looking for a teaching job?
Teaching positions in Vietnam, especially in popular places to live like Hanoi, HCMC and Da Nang, tend to get snapped up quickly and often with a short period before the start date. Therefore, I don’t recommend looking for work until about 1 month before you plan to move to Vietnam.
An exception to this is if you are an international school teacher, in which case positions can be secured up to 6 months before the start of term.
When is the best time of year to find a teaching English job?
The biggest recruitment periods are over the summer and winter, to coincide with the start of the semesters at public and international schools.
Most language centres operate year-round without a break, meaning that time of year won’t affect your ability to find work at a language centre. Winter is a common time for ESL teachers to leave so there is a need to fill positions at this time of year also.